Magazine bolt-gun



, 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. PITGHER. MAGAZINE-BOLT GUN.

(No Model Patented July 11, 189-3 INVENTOR gm Model. 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. A. PITGHBR.

I MAGAZINE BOLT GUN. No. 501,192. Patented July 11, 1893.

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(No Model.) 4 Shets-Sheet 3,

H. 11. 3111011311. MAGAZINE BOLT GUN.

No. 501,192. Patented July 11,1893.

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I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. H. A. PITOHER,

MAGAZINE BOLT GUN.

Patented Ju1y11,1893.'

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIcE.

HENRY A. PITCHER, OF NEILLSVILLE, LISCONSIN.

MAGAZINE BOLT-GUN.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,192, dated July 11, 1893.

Application filed November 21, 1891- Serial No. 412,656. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY A. PITCHER, a resident of Neillsville, in the county of Clark and State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magazine-Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to magazine fire arms and has for its object to simplify the mechanism and increase its power and efliciency as required in guns of this general character which make use of smokeless powder; and the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken and showing the position of certain parts just before firin g, their position after firing being indicated by dotted lines and the cartridge omitted in both positions. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the gun opened for the ejection of a cartridge shell and for supplying a fresh cartridge. Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking in a direction opposite to that of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the breech bolt showing the firing pin and extractor connected thereto. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan of the cover, breech bolt and hammer in the positions occupied when the gun is at half cock. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the bolt, the deflector being shown in section. Fig. 8 is a partial central longitudinal section in vertical plane. Fig. 9 is a similar view of the gun when opened. Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a top and side elevation of a detail. Fig. 12 isa central vertical section showing the breech block partially closed but not locked. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of breech block. Fig. 14 is aplan of the same with the extractor removed. Fig. 15 is a central longitudinal vertical section of sliding cover. Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the magazine, and Fig.17 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 16.

Numeral 1 indicates the receiver connecting the stock and barrel and containing and supporting the loading and tiring mechanism.

2 denotes a bolt or breech piece and 3 a sliding cover or cap having interior grooves 4 whereby it is adapted to embrace flanges 5 on the receiver. The latter is vertically slotted throughout nearly its entire length and receives and guides the bolt between its side walls 6 (see Fig. 5) one of which is recessed or cut away laterally at 7 (see Fig. 3) to provide for the ejection of the cartridge shell. The slot of the receiver extends vertically through the same and is adapted to receive the cartridge magazine or case from below. The receiver is bored longitudinally and itis slotted vertically throughout a part of its length as indicated and as above stated and its side walls 6 are provided with bored out spaces 8 adapted to receive the offset portions 9 of the bolt. These ofiset portions disappear in the circumference of the bolt which at that point loosely fits the bore of the receiver, and they are gradually narrowed both in horizontal and vertical planes toward their rear and disappear in the surface of the bolt at 9' just above a shoulder 10, the bolt being at that region approximately rectangular. By this construction the front end of the bolt can act as a pivot in the bore of the receiver its rear end being free to move t a limited extent vertically within the bore of th receive In: l

stead of rotating the bolt to lock or unlock it as heretofore practiced its rear end is moved vertically as stated so that a shoulder or 01fset 10 thereon is engaged with or disengaged from a corresponding locking abutment or shoulder 11 at the'end of the aforesaid slot in the receiver. This operation is efiected by the sliding movement of the cover through the medium of the following described mechanism:

12 indicates two levers which however may be made integral. These are pivoted to the bolt and extend up through a slot in the sliding cover 3 which is provided with inclined planes 13 adapted to 'underrun the faces 14 of the levers when the cover is moved to the rear. (Compare Figs. 3 and 8.) Preferably the said faces 14 are curved substantially as shown and in such manner that at the beginning of the movement just referred to the inclined plane 13 of the cover will intersect the curved faces of the levers at an acute angle to make the resistance or space as small as practicable. As the planes of the cover underrun the levers the angle of intersection is largely increased to hasten the vertical movement of the bolt. The rear ends of the latches bear on the top of the side walls 6 of the receiver and they act as levers of the second order and lift the bolt so as to disengage; the shoulder 10 whereby the bolt is unlocked and left at liberty to be retracted to permip' re-loading. The bolt is retracted by continuing the before described rearward movement of the cover which is provided with a cross piece or bridge 23' adapted to engage the lug 12' of the bolt to which the levers 12am pivl oted, when the shoulders 10 and 11 have been disengaged. The cover: having been put in motion to unlock the bolt not only effects that operation but thereupon strikes the bolt through the medium of the cross piece 23" and lug 12' with considerable force and'momentum whereby the bolt is moved to the rear and the cartridge shell extracted with entire certainty and ease. The movement-of the cover is effected by means of a handle 15 having overhanging flanges 15' adapted to slide-on ways or guides 16 and connected by Y an arm 17 detachably coupled to the cover by means of a lug 18 which enters a suitable slot in the arm. 19 is a locking lever swinging vertically about a pivot 20 and having a,

lip 21 that engages or overlaps a corresponding lip on the arm 17 and holds the latter upon the lug 18. (See Fig. 2.) The front end of the locking lever is provided with a retaining projection that is sprung intea resees 22 when the lever is moved about its pivot to lock the arm '17.

The bolt, cover andeonn-ected parts are re- 1 turned "to position for firing by a reverse movement of the handle through the medium of the arm :17 connect-ed to the said cover. This latter has a transverse port-ion orbridge 23 preferably rounded as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and in section in Fig. 8 and adapted to bear against the foot of the beveled shoulders 24 on the bolt (see Figs and 8) when the cover and bolt are in their rearward position. As the cover is pushed or pulled forward by the handle it moves the bolt until it closes the barrel whereupon the rounded part 23 rides up and passes over the shoulder 24. and pushes the rear end of the bolt down, thereby bringing the shoulders'lO and 11 into engagement and locking the breech bolt, the cover moving on the bolt after the latter is thus locked sufiicientl-y farto engage the horizontal part 25-01: the bolt and thereby lock the bolt in the vertical plane, as shown in 'Fig. 8.

The extractor 26 milled from a single piece of metal has approximately the form of an ordinary pocket book clasp. It is provided with a hook 27 and on its oppositeside has a rearward extension 28 which is loosely pivoted to a lug or'stud 29 on the bolt by-nieans of a pivot 28.

30 is a curved spring secured in a slot in said lug and bearing laterally on the front end of the extractor and adapted to insure the engagement of the hook 27 with the rim of a cartridge after it has been pushed over the same. (See Fig. 6.) In Figs. 8 and 9 this spring is partially cut away. The extractor has suificient lateral motion to permit the book 27 to be engaged with the forward surface of the cartridge rim the spring 30 being slightly compressed to permit the operation. "ihe draft of the extractor is from its pivot 28 to its hook 27 in an oblique line specially adapted to co-operate with the action of the ejector on the side of the cartridge shell oppo- Bite the book.

31 (see Figs. '3 and 7), denotes an ejector or deflect-or pivoted at its front end 31 in the receiver and having a small lateral horizontal movement about its pivot. On the arm 17 is a lug 32 so arranged that it strikes the projection or shoulder 33 (see Fig. 1) of the ejector at the instant the shell has been retracted so that the hook 34 of the ejector enters the slot 34 (see Fig. 7), "in the end of the retreating bolt and behind the cartridge rim within the depression '2' (see Figs. 7 and 9) in the end of the bolt with the effect to hold the cartridge against further movement in direct line to the rear whereupon the retreating extractor 26 throws out the shell through the recess 7 of the receiver.

0f the firing mechanism 35 (see Figs. -8 and '9) denotes the hammer and 39 is a collar loose on the firing pin '36 and "39 a fixed collar thereon and 37 the main spring retained between said collars.

38 is-a pawl pivoted in a curved slot 38' Fig. 4) formed in the bolt. Said pawl constantly bears on the movahlecollar 39. This pawl has a removable pivot 38". assembling the parts the pawlis pressed against the collar and moves the same and compresses the spring 37 sufficiently to permit the introduction-of the pivot which is normally held in the upper part of the curved slot. The pawl can be removed if desired by forcing it backwardly and thus moving its pivot into the lower end of said slot. The main spring 37 is put under increased tension "after firing by the before described bolt-41m locking movement of the cover, which initial movement carries the cover and with it the hamme-rand pin backwa-rdly while the spring is held by means of collar 39 and the pawl 38 pivoted *to-and held by the bolt.

40 denotes the scar and one of two or morenotches in the hammer to receive the end of the sear to hold the hammer at fu'li or half cook.

41 denotes the trigger. The scar and triggeiarms overlap astshown in Figs. 8 and 9.

42 denotes a spring fast on the trigger and bearing in a recess in the sear.

44 indicates the trigger pivot.

45 indicates a stiif spring provided with a depending hook-ed lug 46 whereby it engages the pivot of the levers 12 or any suitable part of the bolt. Its front end rests in a suitable depression in the lug 29. At its rear end it is provided with a downward hooked projection or tooth 47. In firing, the hammer extension 48, preferably shaped in front as shown, is pushed under the projection 47 and disengages it from the shoulder on the cover.

The magazine is a detachable skeleton case or frame, preferably formed from a single strip of light metal, the sides 50 of which are bent so as to form an open sided receptacle, box or channel to receive the heads of the cartridges. The bottom ofthis receptacle is closed at 51 by bending the strip which is suitably narrowed and is thence extended forward to the angle 52 whence it extends upwardly parallel with the rear portion of the magazine to near the level of its upper part where it is extended forwardly for a short distance and then bent downwardly as at 52 and curved or bent backwardly at 54 and its end secured to the body of the strip by a rivet 53. From the angle 52 to near the bend 54 the strip has a slot 55 suificiently wide to receive the smaller end of a cartridge and the spring 56, which spring also extends into the space between the sides 50 and under the cartridge heads. Cartridges are placed with their heads between the sides 50 and their smaller ends in the slot 55 and are pushed down'upon the spring, which is thereby compressed, until the case is suitably filled whereupon a ribbon 56 of thin metal is passed about them and under the bottom of the magazine case and secured thereon by passing one end of the ribbon through a slot 57 therein and suitably securing it by crimping the free end of the ribbon. The skeleton magazine, spring and retaining ribbon can be very cheaply made of light metal and need not be preserved for re-use. The case is easily inserted from below in a slot in the receiver a lip 58 on the trigger guard, or on a plate secured thereto, engaging the bottom of the receptacle 50 and the bend 54 in the skeleton or frame bearing upon the receiver at the front end of the slot in manner to securely hold the casein place. After the case or magazine frame has been inserted in the gun the ribbon 56 can be removed and thrown aside the cartridges being suitably held by a device 60 which serves both to retain the cartridges in the case or magazine and when suitably operated to movethem one at a time into the barrel or into position ready to be pushed into the barrel by the bolt. This device 60, which may be styled a cartridge inserter is pivoted at 61 and has a heel 62 working in a vertical slot formed in the follower or pin 59. (See Fig. 5.) The pivot 61 is held in a. short vertical slot 64 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) in such manner as to permit the inserter to move vertically a distance equal to the length of said slot. A spring 63 arranged in a a hole bored in the guard presses upward the pin or follower 59 which bears upon the heel 62.

65 is a plug filling the hole below and supporting the spring 63 which holds the curved forward end of the inserter over the cartridges as shown in Fig. 1.

66 and 67 are two projections on the upper end of the inserter 60 and normally in the path of a projection 68 on the bolt. When the latter is retracted as above described this projection 68 engages projection 67 with the efiect to push the inserter back and downward] y and compress the spring 63. As the inserter is thus moved from over the cartridges they are raised by the spring 56 sufficiently to bring the upper one in line with the front end of theinserterat theinstant it has escaped from the control ofproj'ection 68 on the rearwardly moving bolt whereupon the inserter is suddenly thrown forward by the spring 63 and pushes the upper cartridge out of the magazine toward the barrel. When the bolt is retracted the inserter is moved back in a curved path about its pivot until the forward proj ection 66 bears upon the front of the bolt projection 68 whereupon the inserter is pushed down upon its spring and the rear projection 67 depressed below projection 68 and the inserter left free to be swung forwardly by the spring 63 at the same time passing over and retaining the cartridges remaining in the magazine. It will be understood that this operation of placing the cartridges within the barrel or in position to enter the barrel occurs during the backward movement of the bolt instead of during a forward movement as in prior constructions. To hold the cartridges in the case or magazine when it is desired to use the gun as a single loader while the filled case or magazine is in place the pivot 61 working in the slot 64 is made to extend laterally through said slot and is adapted to be engaged preferably by a pivoted hook 69 (see Figs. 3 and 5) upon the outside in such manner that the inserter or its projections 66 and 67 are held down out of the path of the projections 68 and remains over the cartridges.

The invention is not confined to the particular form of the details of construction represented as these may be varied provided substantially the same principles of operation and mechanism are employed. For example it is not essential that the side pieces 50 be as wide as represented, it being only necessary that they besufiicient to retain the cartridge heads laterally. Neither is it essential that they may be made integral with the rest of the case. The cartridge retaining device need not under all circumstances be a metallic ribbon having its end secured in a slot since a flexible wire or other equivalent could be substituted without sacrificing all the advantages of the improvement.

Both projections 66 and 67 are not essential to the operativeness of the device though this construction is preferred because of the certainty and smoothness of the action secured thereby. Other variations will suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic.

It will be observed that the gun is opened, freed from the exploded shell, cooked, and

loaded or partially loaded, by a single rearward movement of the cover and that-the gun is closed and the cover locked by a single return movement of said cover the gun remaining cocked. Itwill also be noticed that the magazine, 'breechbolt, firingpin, hammer; handle, andcover are :easily assembled an??- bolt, meansfor moving-it lengthwise and theextractor. loosely pivoted to one side ofa lug securely held in and on the receiver witho. special separate fastening devices other than the pin which secures the-pawl that bears upon the: movable spring-retaining collar.

Another-feature of practical importance is the simplicity and cheapness of the frame that holds the cartridges. In practice this will be thrown away after use andalso the retaining ribbon and the cartridge spring. It will also be notedthat the gun can be used as'a single loader when thecartridgeframe or.

magazine is in place and the cartridges are suitably held down by the inserter as. set forth. At such time or when there is .no magazine in place a single cartridge-can bereadily inserted through .the :recess- 7.

Among otherfeatures of'importanceit-may be noted that the extractor has such form and arrangement. that it can be made of unusual size and strength. This in connection with its oblique draft renders it very efficient. The described construction also,whereby the cover attains considerable momentum before it strikes the. bolt and starts theextractorislimportant in this connection.

The novel construction by which the foregoing and other advantages are attained will be pointed out in the claims- Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 7 1. The combination of the receiver having the locking abutmenhthe cover sliding on said receiver and provided with inclined planes, the breech-bolt within the receiver hav ing a shoulder to engage said abutment and the lovers pivoted on said bolt and provided with the curved or inclined faces, said levers bearingon the receiver at the end opposite said faces, whereby the moving of the cover under the levers-lifts the bolts; substantially as set forth. I 2. The combination of the receiver having the-locking abutment, the cover sliding on said receiver and provided with inclined planes, the breech bolt within the receiver having a shoulder'to engage said abutment and the lovers pivoted on said bolt and providedzwith the curved or inclined faces,said levers bearing on the receiver at the end opposite said faces,- wh-ereby the moving of the cover under the levers lifts the bolt, said cover being provided with a cross'piece, and the bolt with a lug and the extractor whereby when the bolt has been raised it is forced back and the shell extracted; substantially as set forth. 7

3. The combination of the receiver having a locking abutment 11, the cover having the bridge or cross piece 23, the bolt having a shoulder 10, and the lug 24 provided with an inclined face and with a horizontal face :25,

whereby the bolt is pushed forward and its rear. end depressed and locked both in hori- -zontal and. vertical-i planes; substantially as set forth.

4..The combination of the slotted breech extending above the blt,.andprov'idedon the opposite side near the horizontal diameto lie in the slot in the end of the breech block and engage the side of the shell; substantial-ly as set, forth.

5. The combination of the slotted breech bolt, means for moving it lengthwise and-jthe extractor loosely pivoted to. one side of'a lug extending I above the bolt, and provided on the opposite side near the horizontaldiameter ofsaid bolt with a hook normally adapted toplie in a slot in the end of the breech block and engage the side ofthe shell and a spring fixed to the :block and bearing laterally on engaged with the cartridge, said spring being adapted to becompressed to permit the removal of the extractor; substantially as set forth.

6. The pivoted deflector located in alslot in the side wall of the receiver and provided interior hook adaptedto press on the. rim of the cartridge shell; in combination with the arm of the handle provided with a projection adapted to push the deflectoragainst the said rim; substantially as set forth.

7. The pivoted deflector located in a slotin the side wall of the receiver, and provided with a projection on its exteriorand an interior finger adapted to press on the rim of the cartridge shell, in combination with the arm of the handle provided with a projection adapted to push the deflectoragainst said rim, and :the bolt having arecessfor the head of the cartridge shell, and a slot extending into the recess to permit the passage of said finger; substantially as set forth.

. S. The receiver, the breech bolt slidingin the receiver, the spring provided-with a book 46 to engagea pivot or part secured to the breech bolt and provided also with a catch 47,-in combination with the cover sliding. on the receiver and having a transverse shou1-. der or projection '49, toengage the said catch whereby the gun is held inclosed position while the hammer is at half or full cock; sub-' 'stantially as set forth.

' 9. The receiver, the breech bolt sliding in the receiver the spring 45 provided with a hook to engage the pivot or other part of the bolt and provided with a catch 47, in combination with the cover sliding on the receiver and with the hammer having a hammer-extension 48, whereby said catch is disengaged from the cover upon firing; substantially as set forth.

and means-for moving the-cover lengthwise tor-of said bolt with a hook normally adapted the extractor to keep the hook in its slot and with a projection on its exterior, and with an 7 l a l 10. The slotted receiver in combination with the elastic skeleton magazine, provided with a bend 54, adapted to bear on said receiver at the end of its slot and with a lip 58 normally projecting under the magazine; all substantially as set forth, whereby the skeleton magazine can be compressed to pass it by the :0 spring, a spring to hold the inserter in said normal position, and one or more projections on the inserter located on the path of the breech block or a part thereof, whereby the inserter is withdrawn from above the cartridges and returned against the end of the 2 upper one when the breech bolt releases said inserter; substantially as set forth.

13. The magazine provided with a spring in combination with the vertically movable inserter or pivoted lever extending over the cartridges and a hook to hold said inserter when desired in its lower position; substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification v in the presence of two subscrib- 3 ing witnesses.

"HENRY A. PITCI-IER.

\Vitnesses:

BENJ. R. CATLIN, HOLMES E. OFFLEY. 

